Resetting mechanism for registers



Jan. 20, 1959 Filed June 25, 1957 H. N. BLISS ET AL RESETTING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS HARVEY N. BLISS OTTO W. 0, JR.

A TUPNEYS Jan. 20, 1959 H. N. Buss ETAL 2,869,791

RESEZTTING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS Filed June 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS HARVEY N. BL/SS BY OTTO WILD) JR WWW ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1959 Filed June 25, 1957 H. N. BLISS EFAL 2,869,791

RESETTING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS HARVEY N. BLISS BY or'ro wmcgun.

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ATTDRNEY United States Patent Hartford, Conn., assignors to Veeder-rtoot Iuccrpw rated, Hartford, COIIIL, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 25, 1957, Serial No. 667,818 11 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) This invention relates to registers or counters and more particularly to a resetting mechanism for registers or counters which may be automatically actuated by a single operating lever which, in turn, may be a control lever for the apparatus with which the register or counter is associated. The resetting mechanism of the present invention is particularly applicable to be used with counters or registers of the type described and claimed in the patent application, Serial No. 398,045, filed December l4, 1953 now Patent No. 2,814,444, issued Nov. 26, 1957. Such registers or counters are particularly adapted for use in liquid dispensing apparatus such as gasoline pumping apparatus.

Where registers or counters are employed with dispensing apparatus for liquids such as gasoline, it is neces sary to include a resetting mechanism for the register which brings the register back to its original or zero position following a pumping operation and before beginning a succeeding pumping operation so as to indicate the quantity and cost of gasoline pumped during each operation. In counters or registers of the type referred to here, the counter or register is reset by means of a spring which is manually loaded, preferably automatically in conjunction with some other manual operation such as the actuation of the pump motor switch. Resetting is accomplished by releasing a holding pawl which may be actuated in any desired manner such as by the use of a push button or the like. In some installations, the user may prefer to actuate the holding pawl by operation of the same lever which is utilized to load the resetting spring.

The present invention is directed to a resetting mechanism of the type referred to wherein the actuation of the reset pawl is a function of the spring loading mechanism so that only a single operating connection and hence only a single operating handle is required.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a dispensing apt paratus with which the present invention is associated and showing the manually operated connections;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the register showing the resetting mechanism in the position where the register has been reset and has been placed in condition for a dispensing operation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the resetting mechanism in a position where the resetting spring has been loaded and the parts are located in position prior to a resetting operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the resetting mechanism in the position where the register has been reset but before the apparatus has been conditioned for a dispensing operation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the resetting mechanism shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown in Fig. l as embodied in a register mounted in a typical gasoline dispensing apparatus which is denoted by the upright housing 8. In the interior of the housing 8 is the register 9 mounted on a so-called variator or speed change mechanism 10 of a type available commercially and conventionally used in such apparatus. The register in its specific embodiment is of the type shown in patent application Serial No. 398,045 previously referred to and which is now Patent No. 2,814,444, of Nov. 26, 1957, and is employed to indicate or register the cost and quantity of the gasoline pumped. The register 9 and variator 10 are shown in phantom in Fig. 1 together with an operating lever 12 positioned on the external portion of the housing so as to be accessible to the operator.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the register 9 is arranged to be reset to zero by means of reset shafts 13, 14 which are shown journaled in the side plate 11 of the register 9. These reset shafts 13, 14 are arranged to be driven by means of pinions 15. 16, respectively, both of which are engaged by a. centrally located, main resetting gear 17. As shown in Fig. 6, the main resetting gear 17 is rotatably mounted on a hub 18 rotatably supported, in turn, on a center shaft 19 suitably journaled in the register side plate 11. The outer end of the shaft 19 is pinned to a second hub 21 which is countersunk so as to rotatably engage a portion of reduced diameter on the hub 18. The hub 21 is provided with a peripheral groove 23 which slidably receives the nose of a set screw 24 fixedly mounted in the side wall of a coupling 25. The coupling 25 is centrally bored so as to be rotatable on the hub 21 and is held thereon against axial movement by the engagement of the set screw 24 with the hub groove 23.

Referring now again to Fig. l, the outer end of the coupling 25 is suitably bored and slotted to receive end of an operating arm 26 connected by means of a rod 28 to a bell crank lever 29. The operating handle 12 and the crank lever 29 are fixedly mounted on a stub shaft 30 which is rotatably mounted in the side plate 7 of the housing 8. When the handle 12 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the coupling 25 is rotated clockwise and, conversely, when the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction the coupling 25 is moved in the counterclockwise direction.

The crank arm 29 is provided with an arcuate slot 32 for slidably receiving the upper end of a connecting rod 33 to form a lost motion coupling. The connecting rod 33 may be connected at its other end to a switch which is used to control the operation of the pump motor incorporated with the dispensing apparatus (neither the switch nor pump motor is shown in the drawings). Thus, in the preferred arrangement. rotation of the operating handle 12 to the fullest extent in a counterclockwise direction operates the switch to energize the pump motor and, conversely. when the handle 12 is rotated to the fullest extent in the clockwise direction, the pump motor is deenergized.

Referring now again to Fig. 6, the coupling 25 has rigidly connected thereto a disc 35 having a bent over tab 35a. The hub 21 has rigidly connected thereto a plate 36 which is referred to hereinafter as the drive plate and which is slotted at 37 to loosely accommodate the tab 351, to form a lost-motion connection. It can be seen that movement of the tab 35a in either direction will result in contact with an edge of the slot 37 so that continued movement of the tab will carry the drive plate 3 36 in that direction. The disc 35 and tab 350: is thus the actuating member for the drive plate 36 but at the same time is permitted limited movement relative thereto.

Behind the drive plate 36 and atfixed to the hub 18 of the main resetting gear 17 is a disc 39 which hereafter will be referred to as a control or resetting disc. The control disc 39 is mounted so that it can freely rotate relative to both the main resetting gear 17 and the drive plate 36 and is provided with an ear 39a carrying a post 34 to which one end of a loading spring 38 is attached, the other end of the spring being attached to the register side plate 11. The spring 38 loads the control disc 39 in a clockwise direction.

As shown best in Fig. 2, the control disc 39 carries on its front face an actuating pawl 40 which is pivotally pinned thereto by means of pin 41. The pawl 40 is provided with a nose 42 which is arranged to engage a notch 43 on the drive plate 36 and is loaded in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 45. The actuating pawl 40 also contains a slot 46 shown in dotted lines in Fig. which slidably receives one end of a pin 47 on which is mounted a sliding key 48. The sliding key 48 contains a longitudinally extending slot 50 which slidably receives the projecting end of the actuating pawl pin 41. The pawl 49 and key are biased to their relative positions of Fig. 5 by means of a V-shaped spring 52 connected at each end to one end of the pins 41, 47 with the pins spaced at a maximum as permitted by the slots 46, 50.

The sliding key 48 is provided with a hooked nose portion 43:: and a beveled rear edge 48b. It will be noted that with the parts in the position of Fig. 5, the spring 52 biases the key 48 to a position where the nose 48a clears the drive plate slot 37.

The control disc 39 also carries a pivotable drive pawl 55 on its rear face which is biased in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 56. The drive pawl 55 is mounted in a plane for cooperation with a ratchet plate 58 which. in the specific embodiment shown, is made integral with the main resetting gear 17 so as to rotate therewith. Also pivotally attached to the control disc 39 is the shaft 59 of a dashpot 60 anchored on the side plate 11 of the register. The purpose of the dashpot 60 is to control the rapidity of movement of the control disc 39 when it moves in a clockwise direction.

In the operation of the resetting mechanism, the relationship between the various components of the mechanism and their cooperation may be understood by starting with the components as they are shown in the position of Fig. 4. With the components in this position, the register has been reset and the pump motor associated with the dispensing apparatus is de-energized. To place the com onents in the position of Fig. 4, the operating handle 12 shown in Fig. 1 has been rotated from a vertical position toward the solid line position shown therein in a counterclockwise direction a sufficient amount to bring the tab 35a to the left hand edge of slot 37 but insutficient to impart any movement to drive plate 36, and also insuflicient to move the connecting rod 33 whereby the motor switch remains in the off" position.

When the dispensing apparatus is to be operated for pumping fluid such as gasoline, the operating handle 12 is moved the remaining distance in a counterclockwise direction to arrive at the position of Fig. l carrying with it the connecting rod 33 and operating the pump motor switch to the on position. Movement of handle 12 in the counterclockwise direction rotates the coupling in a clockwise direction, and inasmuch as the tab 350 is engaged with the left band edge of slot 37, the tab a drives the plate in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the nose 42 of the actuating pawl under the action of the biasing spring engages the shoulder 43 on the drive plate 36. The control disc 39 is prevented from turning by engagement of the drive pawl with one of the notches in the ratchet plate 58 and the ratchet plate, in turn, is

held by a locking pawl 61 pivotally mounted on the register side plate 11. The pawl 61 is provided with a locking nose 62 and is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 63.

At the termination of the dispensing operation, the oporator will turn the handle 12 in a clockwise direction to shut off the pump motor and will thus return the handle to a vertical position. In so doing, the coupling 25 and consequently the disc 35 are turned in a counterclockwise direction through the linkages until the tab 35a contacts the lower portion of the drive plate slot 37, following which the drive plate 36 is driven thereby in a counterclockwise direction carrying with it the control disc 39 due to the engagement of shoulder 43 with the actuating pawl nose 42. At the same time the spring 38 is loaded and biases the disc 39 in a clockwise direction.

As the control disc 39 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, the key 48, which is biased radially outward from the disc 39 by the spring 52, is carried with the disc to a position wherein its beveled rear edge 48b contacts a projecting pin 65 mounted on the side plate 11. During further movement of disc 39, the key is cammed radially inward guided by the movement of pin 41 within the slot 50 until the nose 486! extends over the drive plate slot 37 as shown in Fig. 3. Suificient clearance past the tab 3511 now exists as the tab is in driving engagement with the lower end of the plate slot 37. When the counterclockwise movement of the disc 39 is terminated, pin 65 is situated so as to retain the key 48 in the position of Fig. 3 against the biasing action of spring 52.

It will also be noted that when the resetting mechanism is in the position of Fig. 3, both the drive plate 36 and control disc 39, even though biased by the spring 38, do not rotate due to the engagement of a latching pawl 67 with a shoulder 68 on the drive plate 36. The latching pawl 67 is pivotally mounted by means of pin 69 on the register side plate 11 and is loaded in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 70.

During the movement of the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, the locking pawl 61 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction by engagement of a cam surface 71 on the control disc 39 with a pin 72, which raises the nose 62 of the pawl. The rise of the cam surface 71 is sufiicient to cam the nose of the locking pawl 61 far enough to free the ratchet plate 58 for clockwise movement but not enough to clear the leading edge of the notches of the ratchet plate so that the locking pawl will still prevent a counterclockwise move ment of the ratchet plate 58. As far as the drive pawl 55 is concerned it does not prevent the counterclockwise movement of the control disc 39 since it merely ratchets over the ratchet plate 58.

When the dispensing operation has been terminated by the movement of the operating handle 12 to bring the parts to the position of Fig. 3, as just described, the pump motor has been turned off and the register continues to register the amount and cost of liquid dispensed in the preceding dispensing operation. In order to reset the register, all that the operator has to do is turn the handle a slight amount in a counterclockwise direction to bring the tab 35a to the position shown in Fig. 4. In so doing, the tab 35a is raised to carry with it the nose 48a of the key 48 which cannot pivot relative to pawl 40 and thus pivots the actuating pawl 40 about the pin 41. The nose 42 of the actuating pawl is thereupon removed from locking engagement with the shoulder 43 on the drive plate 36 permitting the control disc 39 to move in a clockwise direction under the action of the loading spring 38 to the position shown in Fig. 4. During this clockwise movement of the control disc 39, the drive pawl 55 engages a notch in the ratchet plate 58 and drives the plate in a clockwise direction. As the ratchet plate 58 is connected to the main reset gear 17, this movement resets the register.

The speed of movement of the parts responding to the drive of the spring 58 is controlled by the dashpot 60 and rotation continues until nose 62 of the locking pawl 61 falls into a subsequent notch of the ratchet plate 58. At the completion of the resetting movement the shoulder 73 moves beneath a pin 74 so as to release the latching pawl 67 and frees the drive plate 36 so that the operator may now move the parts to the position in Fig. 2 thus conditioning the apparatus for a subsequent dispensing operation and turning on the pump motor. Because of the latching pawl 67, it is impossible for the operator to turn on the pump motor except by first resetting the register. Conversely, any attempt to turn on the pump motor automatically results in the resetting of the register.

It thus will be seen that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a simplified and foolproof arrangement for permitting the use of a single operating handle for both control of the register and for operating the pump motor switch. While the invention has been described in connection with a spe cific embodiment thereof, it is understood that variations or equivalents thereof within the skill of the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a register having resetting means, a resetting member engageable with the resetting means, a driving spring for the resetting member, a driving member for engaging and moving the resetting member in a spring loading direction, a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position. a manually operable handle, actuating means mounted coaxially with and having a lost motion connection to the driving member, said actuating means being connected to the handle for movement therewith throughout the entire range of movement of the handle, and means on the actuating means for releasing the resetting member from the driving member when the actuating means is moved relative to the driving member in a direction opposite from the spring loading direction.

2. in a register having resetting means, a resetting member engageable with the resetting means, a driving spring for the resetting member, a driving member for engaging and moving the resetting member in a spring loading direction from an original position, a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position, a manuallycperable handle, actuating means mounted coaxially with and having a lost motion connection to the driving member, said actuating means being connected to the handle for movement therewith throughout the entire range of movement of the handle, means on the actuating means for releasing the resetting member from the driving member when the actuating means is moved relative to the driving member in a direction opposite from the spring loading direction, and means for releasing the latch responsive to return of the resetting member to original position.

3. In a register having resetting means, a control member having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the control memher in a resetting direction, a driving member engageable with the control member for turning the control member in a spring loading direction, a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position, a manually operable handle, an actuating member mounted coaxially with the driving member and connected to the handle for movement therewith throughout the entire range of movement of the handle, a lost motion connection between the actuating member and the driving member, and means responsive to relative movement of the actuating member and driving member for releasing the control member.

4. In a register having rotatable resetting means, a

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rotatable resetting member having means for turning the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the resetting member in a resetting direction, a rotatably mounted drive member, a one-way drive between the resetting member and the drive member including a pawl mounted on one of the members and engageable with the other for permitting the drive member to turn the resetting member in a spring loading direction, means to hold the drive member in spring loaded position, manually operable means mounted coaxially with the drive member, a lost motion connection between the manually operable means and the drive member to form a driving connection therebetween but permitting limited movement of the manually operable means relative to the drive member, and means movably mounted on the pawl for extension into the path of movement of the manually operable means for engagement thereby to release the pawl when the manually operable means is moved relative to the drive member in a resetting direction.

5. In a register having resetting means, a rotatable control plate having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the control plate in a resetting direction, a drive member rotatab y mounted coaxially with the control plate, a releasable connector between the control plate and drive member forming a releasable driving connection therebetween, a manually operable actuating member mounted coaxiah ly with the drive member, a projection on one member and spaced shoulders on the other member forming a lost motion connection therebetween, a latch for holding the drive member in spring loaded position, and means on the connector extending into the path of movement of the actuating member for engagement thereby to release the said releasable driving connection when the actuating member is moved relative to the drive member in a resetting direction.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a register having resetting means, a rotatable resetting member having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direc tion, a spring urging the resetting member in a resetting direction, a rotatable driving member coaxial with the re setting member, a releasable pawl forming a releasable driving connection permitting the driving member to rotate the resetting member in a spring loading direction. a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position, a coupling for connection to a manually operable handle mounted coaxially with the driving mem her, a lost motion connection between the coupling and the driving member, and means on the pawl extending into the path of movement of the coupling for engagement thereby to release the pawl responsive to movement of the coupling relative to the driving member in a resetting direction.

7. In a register having rotatable resetting means, a rotatable resetting member having a one-way drive connection for turning the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the resetting member in a resetting direction, a driving member having a releasable one-way drive connection with the resetting member to turn the resetting member in a spring loading direction from an original position, actuating means including a lost motion coupling for the driving member for turning the driving member in a spring loading direction, a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position, releasing means carried by the resetting member and engageable by the coupling for releasing the releasable one-way drive connection between the driving member and resetting means responsive to movement of the actuating member relative to the driving member in a resetting direction, and means for releasing the latch responsive to return of the resetting member to original position.

8. In a register having resetting means, a rotatable resetting member having means for driving the rcseti g means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the IQs-Jt" I ting member in a resetting direction, a rotatable driving member mounted coaxially with the resetting member, a pawl engageable between the driving member and resetting member to permit the driving member to turn the resetting member in a spring loading direction, means for latching the driving member in spring loaded position, a manually rotatable member mounted coaxially with the driving member, a lost motion connection between the manually rotatable member and the driving member, and means for connecting the manually rotatable member with the pawl when the members are in spring loaded position whereby reverse movement of the manually rotatable member releases the pawl.

9. In a register having resetting means, a rotatable resetting member having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the resetting member in a resetting direction, a rotatable driving member mounted coaxially with the resetting member, a pawl engaging the driving member and resetting member to permit them to move in unison from an original position in a spring loading direction, a latch for holding the driving member in spring loaded position, a manually rotatable member mounted coaxially with the driving member, a lost motion connection between the manually rotatable member and the driving member, a movably mounted key for releasing the pawl, and means for moving the key into the path of the manually rotatable memher when the driving member is in spring loaded position.

10. in a register having rotatable resetting means, a rotatable control plate having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the control plate in a resetting direction, a drive plate mounted for oscillation coaxially with the control plate, a pawl on the control plate engageable with the drive plate to form a driving connection therebetween whereby the drive plate can turn the control plate to load the spring, a manually operable member mounted for oscillation coaxially with the drive plate and control plate, a lost motion connection between the manually operable member and the drive plate, a key slidably mounted on the pawl for movement into and out of the path of movement of the manually operable member, means to latch the drive plate in spring loaded position, and means effective when the control plate is in spring loaded position to cam the key into the path of movement of the manually operable member whereby the pawl may be released by reverse movement of the manually operable member.

11. In a register having resetting means, a rotatable control plate having means for driving the resetting means in a resetting direction, a spring urging the control plate in a resetting direction, a rotatable drive plate mounted coaxially with the control plate, an actuating pawl on the control plate for engaging the drive plate to cause the control plate to move with the drive plate in a spring loading direction, means for latching the drive plate in spring loading position, a manually operable actuating member having a lost motion connection with the drive plate to turn the drive plate in either direction but being movable a limited distance relative thereto, a key slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the actuating pawl for movement into and out of the path of movement of the actuating member relative to the drive plate, means biasing the key out of the path of movement of the actuating member, and means for camming the key into said path of movement when the actuating member, drive plate and control plate are turned to spring loaded position whereby the pawl may be released by return movement of the actuating member relative to the drive plate.

No references cited. 

